Hawassa, Ethiopia (ILO News) – Ethiopia is advancing recognition of skills gained through practical experience to promote inclusion, better employment, and economic growth. Many workers acquire expertise outside formal education, and the national Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system aims to validate these skills, translating them into formal qualifications, higher incomes, and greater confidence. Recent training for RPL assessors in Hawassa equipped participants with methods to evaluate and certify competencies across sectors and occupations.
The training included hands-on exercises simulating the full RPL process, from portfolio review and competency conversations to evidence verification and certification decisions. This practical approach strengthened assessors’ ability to fairly evaluate skills acquired informally or through work experience. On the final day, participants drafted action plans for implementing RPL in their respective regions and sectors, laying the groundwork for upcoming pilot programs in priority industries.
For many Ethiopian workers, lack of formal certification limits career mobility, pay, and professional growth. RPL bridges this gap by formally acknowledging real-world skills within the national qualifications framework. Trainees like Ashenafi Semerga from Gurage Zone emphasized how RPL enables workers to convert experience into recognized credentials, opening doors to job opportunities, enhancing confidence, and creating a more skilled workforce.
RPL is a key component of Ethiopia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training strategy, supporting labour market outcomes and inclusion across critical sectors such as garment manufacturing, agriculture, mining, ICT, tourism, hospitality, and construction. The ILO Global Skills Programme provides technical support, capacity building, and quality-assured tools to ensure effective implementation.
With the newly trained assessors ready to conduct pilot RPL assessments, Ethiopia is expanding opportunities for workers to access decent employment, higher earnings, and lifelong learning. Employers benefit from better insights into workforce competencies, helping to address skills gaps and enhance productivity. As the program scales nationwide, RPL will play a central role in recognizing skills wherever they are gained, supporting both national development priorities and the aspirations of workers across the country.
